Taking paracetamol and ibuprofen together quietly fuelling one of the world’s biggest health threats, warn scientists
DRUG ALERT
Since 1990, superbugs have killed at least a million people every year, a figure which could surge to almost 40million in the next 25 years
- Isabel Shaw, Health reporter
POPPING everyday painkillers together could be quietly driving one of the deadliest health crises on the planet, scientists warn.
They say mixing ibuprofen and paracetamol may help superbugs fight off antibiotics, leaving people exposed to infections that are getting harder to treat.
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The common pills, often taken for headaches, fevers and everyday aches, were found to trigger dangerous bacterial mutations when used with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, often used to treat UTIs.
Australian researchers tested the drugs on E. coli and found they made the bug not only resistant to ciprofloxacin but to multiple other antibiotics which typically get rid of the nasty bug.
This process, known as antibiotic resistance (AMR), happens when bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites evolve into superbugs that can fight off the medicines designed to kill them.
Since 1990, superbugs have killed at least a million people every year, a figure which could surge to almost 40million in the next 25 years.
Professor Rietie Venter, expert in microbiology at the University of South Australia and study lead author, said: "Antibiotic resistance isn't just about antibiotics anymore.
"This study is a clear reminder that we need to carefully consider the risks of using multiple medications - particularly in aged care where residents are often prescribed a mix of long-term treatments.
"This doesn't mean we should stop using these medications.
"But we do need to be more mindful about how they interact with antibiotics and that includes looking beyond just two-drug combinations."
For the study, published in the journal Antimicrobials and Resistance, scientists looked at the effects of nine types of drugs used in care homes alongside E. Coli drug ciprofloxacin, including sleeping pills and decongestants.
In lab tests, ibuprofen and paracetamol were the worst offenders, triggering the most genetic mutations and allowing the bacteria to grow faster and become highly resistant, Professor Rietie said.
"Worryingly, the bacteria were not only resistant to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, but increased resistance was also observed to multiple other antibiotics from different classes," he added.
"We also uncovered the genetic mechanisms behind this resistance, with ibuprofen and paracetamol both activating the bacteria's defences to expel antibiotics and render them less effective."
The warning comes as antibiotic-resistant infections in England surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
Latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures show 66,730 people were struck down in 2023, up from 62,314 in 2019.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates drug-resistant bacteria were directly responsible for 1.27million deaths globally in 2019 and linked to nearly 5million.
Meanwhile, analysis by the Global Research on Antimicrobial Resistance (GRAM) Project suggests more than 39 million people across the world could die from antibiotic-resistant infections over the next 25 years.
They predicted in 2024 that global AMR deaths among over-70s would double by 2050.
The WHO has previously described AMR as "one of the top global public health and development threats".
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
It can make historically treatable illnesses harder to combat too.
According to an earlier report published by the GRAM project, everyone is at risk from AMR, but the data showed that young children are particularly affected.
In 2019, one in five deaths attributable to AMR occurred in children under the age of five.
It’s possible to become resistant to medications aside from antibiotics.
Antimicrobials can be grouped according to the microorganisms they target, so antifungals kill fungi, antibiotics attack bacteria, antivirals are used viruses, and antiparasitics treat parasites.
One of the major contributors to AMR is the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials, according to the AMR Narrative.
One of the ways this can happen is if doctors prescribe antibiotics based on symptoms a patient presents, rather than a confirmed diagnosis.
Common medical conditions where antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily are flu, colds, and COVID-19 which are caused by viruses as opposed to bacteria.
How can I take antibiotics responsibly?
- Don't take antibiotics unnecessarily - you should never take antibiotic when you have an illness caused by a virus, as you're putting yourself at risk of getting antibiotic resistance
- Don't double dose if you forget to take your antibiotics
- Don't stop taking antibiotics if it looks like the infection is getting better
- Don't keep an unfinished course of antibiotics to take later or pass round to friends and family
- Regular hand-washing is one of the most basic but crucial ways to reduce the spread of resistant bacteria
Source: AMR Narrative
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